Driving Route : Christchurch - Queenstown - Christchurch

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Day 3 : Queenstown to Dunedin

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel Time	Km	(Miles)
Queenstown - Alexandra	1 hr	87	54
Alexandra - Dunedin	2.5 hrs	193	121
Totals for Day	3.5 hrs	280	175

Queenstown - Alexandra

87 km (54 miles)
Approximately 1 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated and fantastically scenic. It's the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It's also a destination for luxury experiences—gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf.

The vineyards of the Gibbston area are the first temptation on your journey. Then stop and admire the Roaring Meg power station in the Kawarau Gorge.

The restored heart of Cromwell is a treasure for visitors, or take a detour to the old gold workings of Bannockburn. Just before Alexandra, you'll encounter the charming, historic town of Clyde and the huge Clyde Dam.

As the main centre for Central Otago, Alexandra is a prosperous, attractive town. You can walk up to the huge clock on the hill and explore the gold mining displays at the local museum.

In winter, Manorburn Dam freezes to become a skating rink. In summer, you can enjoy the delicious cherries and apricots that grow readily in the region.

Alexandra - Dunedin

193 km (121 miles)
Approximately 2.5 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

As the main centre for Central Otago, Alexandra is a prosperous, attractive town. Walk up to the huge clock on the hill and explore the gold mining displays at the local museum. In winter Manorburn Dam freezes to become a skating rink. In summer you can enjoy the delicious fruit that grows in the region.

There are three ways to get to Dunedin. The fruit route follows the Clutha River through the orchards of Roxburgh. The other two routes take you north through the art deco town of Ranfurly—St Bathans is an excellent side tour along on the way.

Just after Ranfurly you can choose to travel via Dunback, or via Middlemarch through the Rock and Pillar Range. The gold mining town of Macraes Flat is accessible from either route.

In the late 19th century, Dunedin acquired an impressive amount of ostentatious Victorian architecture. Today you can enjoy the historic buildings, imposing churches, palatial homes and ornate hotels. There's even a castle. Eco-tourism is the other face of Dunedin—visit penguin and albatross colonies.

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